The Bangsamoro region of the Philippines’ Mindanao island has long been the center of violent conflicts stemming from deep historical, political, economic, and cultural issues. The Moro people have sought autonomy due to past injustices and ongoing marginalization. Their pursuit of peace is further complicated by political power struggles, economic disparities, and identity challenges. Climate change intensifies these difficulties by increasing the severity and frequency of extreme weather events, which exacerbate issues such as inequality, exclusion, poor governance, and human rights violations – root causes of ongoing violence.
Climate change presents a serious risk to the region’s agricultural sector, a key pillar of its GDP. The effects include a rise in pests, reduced crop yields, and diminished income for smallholder farmers. In 2024, multiple provinces were designated as being in a state of emergency due to the El Niño phenomenon, resulting in damages to crops and livestock worth at least 1.4 billion Philippine pesos. Projections indicate that these effects will intensify, with recent climate models predicting drier conditions by 2050.
To tackle the dual challenges of violent conflicts and climate change, we embraced the concept of peace-positive climate adaptation, initially proposed by peacebuilding experts Dan Smith and Janani Vivekananda of International Alert. This approach connects climate adaptation to peacebuilding goals. Its objective is to strengthen the resilience of the Bangsamoro communities by incorporating conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding principles into climate adaptation initiatives. We present four key recommendations.
- Climate-responsive social and livelihood protection measures
Enhancing social protection initiatives like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which offers cash assistance to low-income families, is vital. These initiatives can be modified to better respond to extreme weather threats by creating flexible systems that can be swiftly scaled during climate disasters. Furthermore, implementing climate risk insurance will safeguard farmers from crop losses, boosting their resilience and supporting sustainable development. By providing starter packs for new income-generating activities and accessible micro-loans, we can empower low-income and vulnerable families to achieve asset and income growth.
- Climate-resilient farming techniques
Promoting the use of certified seeds and stress-resistant crop varieties is crucial for crops to endure extreme weather. It is also vital to ensure access to high-quality fry and fingerlings for aquaculture projects. Developing irrigation systems that can adapt to climate variability, along with efficient water management technologies, will help lessen the effects of climate change. Providing farmers with timely and precise weather and climate updates will enable them to plan cropping seasons and prepare for adverse weather events. Emphasizing high-value crops with strong export potential and adopting integrated farming systems will optimize land utilization.
- Capacity-building for local, peace-promoting climate adaptation offices
Bolstering local disaster risk reduction and management offices is essential for improving community resilience. A decentralized strategy for peace-positive climate adaptation will empower local governments to tackle climate-fragility risks efficiently. It is also crucial to create long-term peace-positive climate adaptation plans supported by the local disaster risk reduction and management fund.
- Conflict-sensitive approaches
To ensure that climate adaptation measures are sensitive to conflict, it is essential to recognize possible sources of conflict in communities. Involving communities in planning and decision-making enhances public impact and fosters support. Embracing the “do no harm” principle guarantees that adaptation initiatives do not adversely affect or obstruct the positive developments within Bangsamoro communities.
Addressing climate adaptation in the Philippine Bangsamoro is critical due to the dual threats of climate change and ongoing violent conflicts. Our recommendations propose integrating conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding principles into climate adaptation strategies to strengthen the resilience of Bangsamoro communities and their livelihoods. It is essential for both regional and local governments to actively participate in the intricate process of climate adaptation in these vulnerable areas, ensuring that implementation is sustainable, transparent, accountable, and efficient. This strategy not only tackles the immediate challenges posed by climate change, but also fosters enduring peace and stability across the region.
Keywords: climate adaptation, climate change, Philippines, peace, peace-positive, conflict, conflict resolution, Bangsamoro
Jon H. Gaviola
Jon H. Gaviola is a PhD candidate at the University of Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand. His research interests focus on building the resilience of vulnerable and minoritized communities and their livelihoods to climate, conflict and disaster risks.
Laurence L. Delina
Dr. Laurence L. Delina is a Filipino scholar from Mindanao, specializing in climate and society. He serves as an assistant professor in the Division of Environment and Sustainability at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
